Terrace Park, Sioux Falls

Terrace Park, a 52-acre public park in Sioux Falls, offers a rich blend of history, recreation, and scenic beauty. Originally known as Covell Lake Park or Phillips Park, the park was founded in 1916 and later named for its signature steep terraces. In recognition of its historical and cultural significance, Terrace Park and its Japanese Gardens were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Set along the shores of Covell Lake, an oxbow lake formed from a cut-off branch of the Big Sioux River, the park provides a variety of recreational activities. Walking and cycling paths wind through the area, while the lake itself offers fishing, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities. Covell Lake also serves as a picturesque backdrop for picnics, where visitors can enjoy sharing food with ducks and koi.

The park’s standout feature is its Sioux quartzite-lined terraces, cascading 30 feet to the lakeshore. It also offers picnic shelters, benches, restrooms, a bandshell, a swimming complex, sports courts, and baseball fields. A 20-acre veterans' memorial plaza with fountains and star-shaped benches was added in the early 2000s to honor service members.

The Shoto-Teien Japanese Gardens, on Covell Lake’s east side, is a tranquil retreat with Sioux quartzite walls, wooden pergolas, stone lanterns, and bridges. It features a teahouse, diverse plantings from Japan and the Great Plains, and a waterfall-fed pond. Originally built in the 1920s, it was restored in the 1980s by landscape architect Koichi Kawana.

Terrace Park began with pioneer Josiah Phillips and was shaped by Frederick Spellerberg, the city's first Park Superintendent. The Works Progress Administration added quartzite walls, ball fields, and a theater in the 1930s. Today, it remains a popular spot for concerts, the Japanese Gardens, swimming, and scenic lakeside walks.